Sports

SPY Swimmer Will Compete at Junior National Meet

Katie Parker, a junior at Severna Park High School, qualified for the Winter Junior National Championship held in Tennessee.

When SPY swimmer Katie Parker found out she qualified for the Winter Junior National Swimming Championship, she squealed with delight.

“When my coach pulled up the times and I saw I made the cut I was so excited,” Parker said. “I squealed like a little girl and then ran over to text my mom who was sitting in the stands.”

Parker, 16, is a junior at Severna Park High School and has been swimming since she was in fourth grade. On Dec. 6-8, she will swim in the Junior National Championship, which is being held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

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Parker will be swimming in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, as well as the 200- and 400-meter individual medley (IM).

“I didn’t qualify by that much, but I am really hoping to just represent SPY as best as I can and have a good meet,” Parker said. “I am not going to get a chance after high school to swim in a meet like this with people my age. It should be a good experience to have.”

Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When she gets to the national meet Parker said her best event should be the 100-meter breaststroke.

“The 100-meter breaststroke is definitely my best event, but my 200-meter breast is starting to catch up so it will be exciting to swim both of those.”

While Parker said she doesn’t have much free time outside of swimming, she likes to spend what time she has hanging out with her family and watching college football. She said she plans on swimming at a Division I school in college.

Do you know Katie? Congratulate her in the comments. And check Patch next week for another junior national contender bio.


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